Information about deadlines can be obtained after you have put together a degree program.

Course Content

The degree programme consists of five core areas:

Pharmaceutical chemistry
Synthesis and analysis of pharmaceutical agents and their effect mechanism at the molecular level. Due to the numerous practical courses, graduates acquire substantial skills and knowledge of chemical analytics, development of pharmaceutical agents and synthetic chemistry of drugs and medicines.

Pharmaceutical biology
Basics of biology and in addition, specialised knowledge of pharmaceutical biotechnology, medicinal and poisonous plants as well as the use of isolated biogenic agents in medical therapy.

Pharmaceutical technologies and biopharmacy
Processing of drug substances and pharmaceutical excipients into dosage forms (e.g. pills) and the temporal concentration of drugs and medicines in the human body.

Pharmacology
Molecular effect mechanisms of drugs and medicines in the body and their impact on organ functions. This includes clinical aspects, rational choices of suitable substances for ideal therapeutical outcomes, potential interactions with other drugs, and the critical assessment of undesirable side effects.

Clinical pharmacology
Managed by the cooperation unit for clinical pharmacology, a network consisting of the university hospital, the hospital’s pharmacy and the IPMB. This results in clinically- and patient-oriented teaching and research with the aim of recognising and avoiding risks associated with drug therapy and optimising the effectiveness of drugs for individual patients.

Course Structure

Degree programmes in pharmacy with the goal of becoming licensed are all organised by the licensing regulation for pharmacists throughout Germany. This legislative decree defines course content and the course of the programme:

First state examination: Heidelberg University is the first university in Germany to no longer administer the first state examination as a central examination but in the form of examinations taken over the course of stage 1 studies (similar to the Bachelor’s programme).

Second state examination: Conclusion of the university degree programme with a final oral examination in pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmaceutical biology, pharmaceutical technologies, pharmacology and clinical pharmacy.

In general, graduates subsequently complete a 12-months practical training course in research departments, the industry or pharmacies.

Then, students take the third component of the state examination, after which the graduates can apply to become licensed.